‘He looked soulless’: Witness gives eerie description of teacher arrested for random murder of married couple

A “soulless” schoolteacher has been charged in the killing of an Arkansas married couple with children whom he didn’t even know.

Last Saturday, schoolteacher Andrew James McGann, 28, ran into Clinton David Brink, 43, and his 41-year-old wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, at Devil’s Den State Park and reportedly proceeded to attack.

I hope that The State of Arkansas seeks the Death Penalty for this Killer who killed the parents of two precious girls; ages 9 & 7. The Victims names are Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. Those are the only names that you need to remember. pic.twitter.com/GAapRpwZfs

— MaryMacElveen (@MaryMacElveen) July 31, 2025

He first allegedly stabbed the husband, prompting the wife to usher their children to safety. But she then made the fatal mistake of returning to the scene to help her husband. McGann then reportedly stabbed her.

The police haven’t provided further details on how the couple died.

What’s known is that the children were left untouched, and that once the couple was found, the authorities quickly zeroed in on a suspect.

“The police recruited local residents and park visitors for help in their search for the killer, requesting any cellphone videos, photos, security footage or other materials from the day of the killings,” according to The New York Times.

“On Tuesday, the authorities released a photo of a man facing away from the camera and wearing all black, a backpack and baseball cap, whom they described as a ‘person of interest.’ The photo, the police said, was taken by another hiker,” the reporting continued.

The suspect turned out to be McGann, who was spotted on Wednesday at Lupita’s Beauty Salon in Springdale. Hairstylist Adriana Ruiz Avalos felt disturbed by his demeanor.

“As soon as I saw him, as I was telling him to come into my chair, I had an eerie feeling about him,” she later told NewsNation. “He looked soulless. He didn’t look right.”

Listen:

Avalos added that McGann, a new customer, had “very sunken” eyes and “very dry and matted” hair. Also, he specifically asked her to avoid cutting anything off the top so that his eyes would remain covered.

While McGann was inside, law enforcement spotted his car outside. They then proceeded to enter the shop, prompting him to behave like nothing was up.

“He really didn’t say anything until they were like, ‘I believe it’s your car,’” Avalos recalled.

Watch McGann’s arrest below:

This new footage shows the moment Andrew James McGann was arrested while getting a haircut at Lupita’s Body Salon in Springdale. He is being charged in connection to the double murder of Clinton and Cristen Brink at Devil’s Den State Park. pic.twitter.com/2DZ2Z3ayL4

— News Channel3 Now (@newschannel3now) July 31, 2025

He’s since been charged with two counts of capital murder and is being held without bond at the Washington County Jail. According to State Police Maj. Stacie Rhoads, he immediately confessed to the crimes, as reported by local station KHOU.

“He did indicate that he committed the murders,” she said during a Thursday press conference. “I would call it an admission.”

She added that the police found his DNA at the crime scene.

“In my 27 years that I’ve been with the State Police, this is probably one of the most heinous that we’ve had, especially the aspect of just how random it was,” Rhoads continued.

McGann nevertheless reportedly intends to plead not guilty.

According to an investigation by CBS News, McGann’s career as a teacher was a troubled one that involved him being placed on administrative leave in 2023 from a Texas school because of his inappropriate behavior with girls.

#NEW: I spoke to the mother of a former student of the suspected murderer, accused of killing a couple in Arkansas while on hiking trail with their two daughters.

James Andrew McGann worked in Texas for Lewisville, ISD as an elementary school teacher in 2023. A mother of one… pic.twitter.com/MCB6K55c6Y

— Brooke Taylor (@Brooketaylortv) July 31, 2025

“I was shocked and horrified and saddened, but also angry,” Sierra Marcum, the mother of one of his former students, told the network. “Honestly, because there were signs that not all was right with Mr. McGann.”

She said that her son was bothered by his behavior, which included giving girls extra treats and keeping them in class alone during recess.

“Really, the tipping point for him, I think, was when he overheard Mr. McGann tell one of the little girls, ‘If you were older, I would love to marry you,’” she said. “That was the day he came home and started crying.”